Page 21 of A Duke for Stealing
“I do sound a bit funny, do I not?” She asked in a way of agreement.
“Nay, Your Grace,” the nurse spoke up.
Rose raised her head to see the woman looking at her fondly.
“You are doing just fine with the parts you are playing.”
Rose gave the woman a grateful smile and a small nod.
“How is our little patient?” She asked.
“All bandaged up,” the nurse replied. “I shall fetch her a clean pair of stockings, and then she is free to go.”
“Hear that?” Rose asked Diana, giving her a little squeeze. “You can play again very soon. Is that not wonderful?”
“Would you come play with me?” Diana asked, her tone hopeful.
“Diana!”
Before Rose could answer, Leah’s voice broke through the air. Rose turned and saw the oldest twin stalk toward them, her hands curled into fists.
“What are you doing?” She demanded.
Rose looked down as the little girl slid from her lap, taking big steps away from Rose.
“I fell in the garden, Lady Rose was just helping me,” Diana meekly replied.
Leah glared harshly at Rose, then turned to her sister.
“If you are hurt, you come to me, understand?” Leah demanded. “We do not need her.”
“Leah,” Rose interjected, her tone soft, “It is alright. I wanted to help.”
“We do not needyourhelp,” Leah stated with displeasure.
She then walked over to the nurse holding a clean pair of stockings for Diana, and snatched them from her hands.
“I shall take care of it,” Leah stated, glaring at the nurse.
“You will watch your temper, little lady,” the nurse reprimanded.
“And you will remember your place,” Leah shot back, speaking with a tone far beyond her years. “Both of you. Neither of you is our mother. Now leave us!”
“Do not take that tone with the Lady of this house!” The nurse warned, but Rose quickly stopped her.
“All is well, nurse,” Rose said calmly, then turned a steady gaze toward the girls.
Diana looked positively frightened, while Leah looked like a lioness protecting her cub. Yelling was not going to get them anywhere.
“We will leave you be,” Rose said, putting a lead hand on the nurse’s arm. “But know that we are not far if you need us. We are here for you.”
“We do not need you!” Leah shouted as Rose and the nurse left, “We do not need anyone!”
The door slammed so violently that it echoed through the hall and made Rose wince.
“Your Grace, if I may,” the nurse urged, “You must not let her speak to you like that.”
“Under normal circumstances, I would agree,” Rose replied, “However, this situation is both horrid and unique. The girls miss their parents deeply, and now they have an entire household of adults telling them what to do. I cannot imagine how lonely and poorly that would make one feel.”
